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Starting before full retirement age generally lowers your monthly retirement benefit. Waiting beyond full retirement age increases it until age 70. Compare your own estimates, income needs and family situation before choosing a start date.
A marriage lasting at least 10 years may help you qualify for divorced-spouse benefits. Your age, current marital status and other requirements also matter. Ask Social Security to check your options.
U.S. territories have different assistance programs. The mainland Medicare Savings Program rules do not apply in the same way. Ask your territory's Medicaid agency what help is available with health care and Medicare costs.
SSDI requires enough recent work covered by Social Security and a medical condition that meets its disability rules. Gather your work history, treatment information and details about how your condition limits work. If denied, read the notice and protect your appeal deadline.
SSI may provide monthly payments if you are 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability and meet income, resource and other requirements. Your payment depends on your circumstances. SSI is separate from Social Security retirement.
Medicare's Extra Help program is not available in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands or American Samoa. Your territory may offer other help with drug costs. Ask its Medicaid agency about available programs.
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Ask what appointment type you need and whether it can be handled by phone instead.
Government photo ID, your Social Security number or SSA letter, and any notice or confirmation.
Don't wait for every document. Call or start at ssa.gov — they'll tell you what's needed.
Choose the guide that fits your question.
Compare claiming ages and the questions to consider.
Read about this guide →Prepare your work and medical information.
Read about this guide →Understand enrollment steps and coverage choices.
Read about this guide →Learn which family benefits to ask Social Security about.
Read about this guide →Learn about the retirement earnings test.
Read about this guide →Understand disability work incentives and reporting.
Read about this guide →Many tasks don't require a visit.
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Browse the free guidesUse your personal Social Security estimate rather than a national average. Your earnings history and the age you start benefits affect the amount. Compare estimates for different start dates in your my Social Security account.
See Social Security's retirement planning tools · Free guide: When to Start Social Security
You may qualify, but a short description cannot establish eligibility. Programs have different rules for income, resources, age, disability, household and residence. Use the guides to identify programs to ask about, then confirm the requirements with the agency that runs each program. Programs in U.S. territories can differ.
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed January 5, 2025, ended the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset for benefits payable for January 2024 and later. These were specific reductions connected to pensions from work not covered by Social Security. Other benefit rules still apply. For example, Social Security payments can still reduce the tier I portion of a railroad retirement annuity.
Often, yes, but the rules depend on the benefit. Retirement benefits have an earnings test before full retirement age, with a higher limit in the year you reach that age. The test ends starting with your full retirement age month. SSDI has separate work incentives and earnings rules, including different rules for blindness. SSI uses its own income-counting rules. Report work and ask which rules apply to you.
Free guide: Working while receiving retirement · Free guide: Working while receiving SSDI
SSDI is disability insurance based on covered work and Social Security's disability rules. SSI is for people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability and meet income, resource and other requirements. Some people qualify for both. SSI generally requires residence in a U.S. state, the District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands.
Free guide: Filing for Disability · Free guide: Understanding SSI